Corrective Jaw Surgery

 

Corrective jaw, or orthognathic, surgery is performed by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon (OMS) to correct a wide range of minor and major skeletal and dental irregularities, including the misalignment of jaws and teeth. Surgery can improve chewing, speaking and breathing. While the patient's appearance may be dramatically enhanced as a result of their surgery, orthognathic surgery is performed to correct functional problems.

Jaw Surgery
can have a
dramatic effect
on many aspects
of life.

Following are some of the conditions that may indicate the need for corrective jaw surgery:

• Difficulty chewing, or biting food

• Difficulty swallowing

• Chronic jaw or jaw joint (TMJ) pain and headache

• Excessive wear of the teeth

• Open bite (space between the upper and lower teeth when the mouth is closed)

• Unbalanced facial appearance from the front, or side

• Facial injury

• Birth defects

• Receding lower jaw and chin

• Protruding jaw

• Inability to make the lips meet without straining

• Chronic mouth breathing

• Sleep apnea (breathing problems when sleeping, including snoring)

 

Your dentist, orthodontist and OMS will work together to determine whether you are a candidate for corrective jaw, or orthognathic, surgery. The OMS determines which corrective jaw surgical procedure is appropriate and performs the actual surgery. It is important to understand that your treatment, which will probably include orthodontics before and after surgery, may take several years to complete. Your OMS and orthodontist understand that this is a long-term commitment for you and your family, and will try to realistically estimate the time required for your treatment.